Picnic rug with a hammock function

ABSTRACT

A picnic rug having a hammock function. The picnic rug being composed of: a picnic rug main body that is configured having at least two layers and at least in part has an elastic and thermally insulating intermediate layer that improves the sitting and lying comfort. In each case, at least one drawstring assembly for receiving a suspension in the hammock function is disposed on at least two mutually opposite edges of the picnic rug.

The invention relates to a picnic rug with a hammock function according to claim 1.

A sojourn in nature offers pleasure when on the move, on the one hand, but also when lingering and resting. To this end, food for a break is often carried along, for example when walking, which should then be enjoyed in a relaxed environment, to which end utensils for a comfortable rest are likewise part of the equipment.

Picnic rugs which are carried along in a rolled-up state and, in order for the picnic rug also to be able to be spread out on a field which is still somewhat moist, are in most instances provided with a water-repellent coating on a lower-side contact face and with a comfortable upper side of cloth have been well known to date for resting on the ground.

Furthermore, hammocks which for a prolonged rest are suspended by means of ropes and suspension hooks inter alia between two trees, for example, so that one can rest in the hammock, for example after an al fresco meal, are widely known.

It is disadvantageous that a plurality of products, for example specifically at least one picnic rug, on the one hand, and additionally a hammock and optional suspension utensils, on the other hand, have to be carried along for an al fresco picnic followed by a subsequent rest in a hammock.

It has therefore already been disclosed in the prior art that multifunctional solutions which by way of one item fulfill the function of both a ground sheet or a picnic rug as well as of a hammock are provided herein.

Waterproof tarpaulins which can be deployed in a multifunctional manner, for example as a sheet on the ground for sitting, as a “makeshift bed” in the form of a hammock, or as a “makeshift tent” are known from the “military” sector, in particular. Plastic tarpaulins of this type, which on the peripheries have a few narrow all-purpose loops, in terms of the function thereof as a rug for sitting on the ground or as a hammock, respectively, represent in each case only a “makeshift solution”, since said plastic tarpaulins are configured so as to be very thin in order to cause as light a packing weight as possible, on account of which comfortable sitting or lying on an uneven rocky ground is not possible.

Furthermore, these products are neither stretchable nor breathable, that is to say that the plastic tarpaulin when used as a hammock is comparatively uncomfortable, impermeable to air, and by way of the cool smooth surface thereof is not suitable for offering a comfortable sojourn that goes beyond pure expedience as is desired in the case of enjoyable leisure activities. Also, loops that are sewn on laterally for additional suspension ropes or chains are always weak spots, since the seams that are to some extent heavily and non-uniformly stressed rupture easily, and the loops slip out.

A tarpaulin of this type having eyelets is known from the German utility model DE 20 2005 004 784 U1. An attempt at improving the lack of comfort by way of a second textile upper layer is made here. However, the extremely simple basic construction, having few encircling eyelets, does not permit a comfortable solution as a hammock. The eyelets are also easily bent under comparatively high stress. Moreover, the textile upper layer alone does not have the effect of a comfortable use as a picnic rug.

A further multifunctional rug is known from the publication GB 2 401 055 A, said multifunctional rug being likewise based on the technical principle of a tarpaulin having encircling eyelets. The eyelets here are configured as separate loops which also permit a use for transporting injured persons, for example. However, it holds true here too that a comfortable use as a hammock cannot be achieved by way of these loops. While a hammock-like body can be formed and be attached by way of additional suspension ropes between two suspension points, a comfortable use would be enabled only in the case of suspending the tarpaulin by way of four suspension points, which is difficult to implement in practice. Here too, by virtue of the purely expedient configuration of the material, the comfort when used as a picnic rug is only minor.

Further similar designs are disclosed in the U.S. patent documents U.S. D551,891 S and U.S. D702,072 S.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a comfortable picnic rug for use in the leisure sector which can also be utilized simultaneously as a full-fledged hammock.

This is achieved according to the invention by a picnic rug having a hammock function, having the features of claim 1.

The dependent claims have advantageous design embodiments of the picnic rug having a hammock function as the subject matter.

It can be seen herein that the picnic rug is designed so as to be padded, in order for the former on uneven ground to provide a more even support surface for inter alia picnic plates and for more comfortable sitting, and to also have a thermally insulating effect.

By contrast to the encircling eyelets or the sewn-on loops as disclosed in the prior art, stable drawstring assemblies through which rope- or belt-type suspensions forming suspension loops are guided are configured on at least two mutually opposite edges of the picnic rug. These rope- or belt-type suspensions serve for the later use of the picnic rug as a hammock, wherein the picnic rug is contracted in the region of the drawstring assemblies as a result of the suspensions, thus configuring the typical hammock shape.

It is in principle possible herein for these rope- or belt-type suspensions to be permanently disposed in the drawstring assemblies, wherein said suspensions in the case of a spread-out picnic rug run in the drawstring assemblies and only the free ends of said suspensions are present at the openings of the drawstring assemblies. Various alternative arrangements are possible here.

Alternatively, the suspensions at the corners of the picnic rug can also be utilized, for example by means of tent pegs, to lay out the picnic rug on the ground in a wind-protected and fold-free manner.

The rope- or belt-type suspension at the one free end thereof, at an opening of the drawstring assembly, by means of a stopper element which is configured as a separate element or is configured in the form of a knot of the rope- or belt-type suspension per se can be secured in such a manner that an insertion of said free end into the drawstring assembly is impossible. At the other end, the arrangement of a loop is provided, for example such that the drawstring assembly is pushed together toward the stopper element when suspending is performed on this loop.

Alternatively, two end-side loops which when the picnic rug is used as a hammock are either placed directly about stable branch ends of a tree, for example, or in which a clipper on an additional comparatively long fastening rope, fastening belt, or a chain, or similar, that is carried along can be hooked, for example, are provided on the rope- or belt-type suspension. The drawstring assembly in the case of this construction embodiment is pushed together from both ends toward the center.

In the case of these construction embodiments, as well as also in the case of further alternative designs, the rope- or belt-type suspension can be fastened in the drawstring assembly in order for any loss of suspension or any inadvertent unilateral extraction from the drawstring assembly to be reliably precluded. An example thereof is a rope- or belt-type suspension which in an approximately centric manner in the drawstring assembly is fixedly connected, for example sewn, riveted, or adhesively bonded to said drawstring assembly or to the picnic rug, respectively. It can additionally be controlled in this advantageous way at which point of the drawstring assembly the latter is pushed together, this ideally being centric such that the annular bead that is formed from the drawstring assembly is uniformly configured.

A further construction embodiment provides that the rope- or belt-type suspension is guided out of the drawstring assembly freely only at one open end of the latter, and does not exit the drawstring assembly at the opposite side but is fixedly connected to the drawstring assembly or to the picnic rug. In a manner similar to the construction embodiment having the stopper element, the drawstring assembly in the case of this solution is pushed together toward that end to which the rope- or belt-type suspension is fastened. It is thus possible here for the drawstring assembly to alternatively be openly guided out only at that end from which the free end of the rope- or belt-type suspension exits, the latter by way of a loop disposed thereon, for example.

In order for the picnic rug which now functions as a hammock to be aligned, it is expedient in the case of this construction embodiment, as well as in the case of the construction embodiment having a stopper element, for an eyelet-type receptacle for the free end of the rope- or belt-type suspension to be disposed on that end of the drawstring assembly toward which the drawstring assembly is pushed together. The rope- or belt-type suspension is guided through this eyelet-type receptacle when the drawstring assembly contracts, so as to cause a defined alignment of the picnic rug which functions as a hammock such that the latter when stressed by the weight of the user does not have a skewed position.

In the case of another construction embodiment, the suspension ropes or belts, respectively, have a threading aid, for example an approximately lancet-shaped plastic disk, so as to further simplify the introduction of the rope- or belt-type suspensions into the drawstring assemblies, should the suspension ropes or belts have been pulled out of the picnic rug.

In the case of one advantageous design embodiment of the picnic rug according to the invention, a contact face is provided with a water-repellent coating, or the contact face per se is composed of a water-repellent material which in the case of the hammock is on the external side.

In the case of another construction embodiment of the picnic rug according to the invention, said picnic rug has a rectangular basic shape in which all four corners are in each case cut so as to be tapered from the longitudinal side toward the head side. On account thereof, when used as a hammock, an excessively thick bead on the drawstring assemblies is avoided.

In the case of another construction embodiment, the overall aspect of protecting the tree trunk by way of the suspension is also considered in that either the rope- or belt-type suspension which protrudes from the drawstring assemblies, when said suspension is to be placed directly about free branch ends, is configured without additional further suspension ropes, suspension belts, or suspension chains, or else the suspension that is additionally carried along at least at one free end is configured so as to be significantly widened or flat, so as not to injure the tree bark during wrapping.

Of course, at least one buckle can be disposed in a known manner on each of the suspensions, so that loops for suspending are formed from the free ends of the suspensions.

The picnic rug according to the invention overall represents both a comfortable and insulating rug for sitting or lying on the ground as well as an actually comfortable hammock which enables an enjoyable sojourn outdoors even in the case of comparatively cold weather, for example late in the evenings, since by virtue of the central layer between the upper and the lower layer, which of course is also thermally insulating, the body heat is less rapidly dissipated through the fabric area. Also, any penetration of the fabric area, for example by mosquitoes, is significantly reduced by the overall padding. 

1. Picnic rug having a hammock function, comprising: a picnic rug main body having at least two layers and at least in part has an elastic and thermally insulating intermediate layer that improves the sitting and lying comfort; wherein in each case at least one drawstring assembly for receiving a suspension in the hammock function is disposed on at least two mutually opposite edges of the picnic rug.
 2. Picnic rug having a hammock function according to claim 1, further comprising: a rope- or belt-type suspension for forming at least one suspension loop in the hammock function, the suspension being disposed in the drawstring assembly.
 3. Picnic rug having a hammock function according to claim 2, wherein the rope- or belt-type suspension exits the drawstring assembly at least one open end of the latter.
 4. Picnic rug having a hammock function according to claim 2, wherein the rope- or belt-type suspension is fastened in the drawstring assembly.
 5. Picnic rug having a hammock function according to claim 2, wherein the rope- or belt-type suspension at one free end has a stopper element which is configured as a separate element or is configured as a knot of the rope- or belt-type suspension per se and prevents said free end from being inserted into the drawstring assembly.
 6. Picnic rug having a hammock function according to claim 2, wherein the drawstring assembly has an opening for the rope- or belt-type suspension to exit on at least one side.
 7. Picnic rug having a hammock function according to claim 2, wherein the rope- or belt-type suspension at at least one of the ends thereof has a loop and is of approximately the length of the drawstring assembly.
 8. Picnic rug having a hammock function according to claim 1, wherein the lower side of the picnic rug main body is composed of a water-repellent material or is provided with a water-repellent coating.
 9. Picnic rug having a hammock function according to claim 2, wherein the rope- or belt-type suspension has a threading aid for simplified sliding through the drawstring assembly.
 10. Picnic rug having a hammock function according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one pocket for storing the picnic rug and optionally suspension utensils, the at least one pocket being disposed laterally on the picnic rug main body.
 11. Picnic rug having a hammock function according to claim 1, wherein the picnic rug has an approximately rectangular basic shape in which all four corners are tapered from the longitudinal side toward the head side.
 12. Picnic rug having a hammock function according to claim 1, wherein the picnic rug is configured so as to be padded.
 13. Picnic rug having a hammock function according to claim 1, wherein the picnic rug is configured so as to be quilted.
 14. Picnic rug having a hammock function according to claim 2, wherein the rope- or belt-type suspension, or the further suspension, at least at one free end is configured so as to be significantly widened and flat. 